Oral Cancer: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Overview: What is Oral Cancer?

Early detection is key in the fight against oral cancer, a prevalent type of head and neck cancer. Often referred to as mouth cancer, it typically originates in the area around the lips or inside the mouth and remains one of the most common cancers in this region. 

Often appearing as white lesions or patches, oral cancer can spread to the throat and other parts of the head and neck if left untreated".

Which part of the oral cavity can be affected? 

Oral cancer can affect

• Area surrounding your gums and lips.
• Lining of your cheeks.
• Area beneath your tongue.
• The initial portion of your oral cavity.
• Area behind your wisdom teeth.

Symptoms and Causes: What are the symptoms associated with Oral Cancer?

White patches or longer-lasting sores are common early symptoms that could be an indication of oral cancer. Followed by, these patches would need additional diagnosis because they might be precancerous 

If these symptoms persist, they should not be ignored and warrant medical attention, as they may indicate early signs of oral cancer:

• Mouth and lip soreness
• Crusty or rough patches on your tongue, lips, or mouth
• Leukoplakia (white or gray spots) or erythroplakia (red spots that may bleed when scratched)
• Your face, neck, or mouth may feel numb, painful, or tender.
• Having trouble moving your mouth or jaw
• Chewing or swallowing difficulties
• Unaccounted-for weight loss 
• Bad breath

What is the Cause of Oral Cancer?

It begins with a genetic mutation that causes aberrant cell division in the squamous cells that line your mouth. If these cells expand to other parts of your mouth, they will eventually move to other parts of your head and neck.

Risk factors: What are the risk Factors associated with Oral Cancer? 

• Use of Tobacco: One of the main factors contributing to oral cancer is tobacco use. The chemicals in tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars, and particularly smokeless tobacco products like chewing tobacco, pan, gutka, snuff, and water pipes (Hookah), harm the cells in our mouths and raise the risk of oral cancer.
• Drinking: Regular alcohol use or tobacco use can raise the risk of oral cancer.
• Human papillomavirus: It is a sexually transmitted infection that is more common in children and people who do not smoke.
• Poor oral hygiene: It might raise the chance of developing chronic irritation from sharp teeth, poorly fitting dentures, and inadequate dental care.
• Deficient diet: A diet low in fruits, vegetables, and vitamins A, C, and E weakens the mouth's defenses against aberrant cells.
• Exposure: Too much sun exposure might raise your risk of developing cancer, particularly around your lips.
• Family History of Oral Cancer: There may be a higher chance of developing cancer in the future if any close family members have already had the disease.

Stages of Oral Cancer 

Oral cancer can be divided into four Stages based on factors like size, mass, and the extent of tissue invasion. 

Stage 0: The first stage of cancer is characterized by aberrant cells that are limited to the outermost layer of the oral mucosa and have not yet progressed to the deeper tissues.

Stage I: Less than 2 cm in length, with no lymph nodes or other body regions affected.

Stage II: It has not migrated to lymph nodes or other regions, and its size has increased to about 2-4 cm.

Stage III: Although it has not yet migrated to distant organs, the tumor has grown to a size of more than 4 cm or has reached one neighboring lymph node (on the same side of the neck).

Stage IV: Most developed stage. The tumor might have migrated to several or large lymph nodes, grown into adjacent tissues like the skin or jaw, or even made its way to distant organs like the lungs.

Diagnosis and Treatment: How to Diagnose Oral Cancer? 

During a routine checkup or physical examination of your oral health, your dentist may check for lumps or sores and look for signs of oral cancer. For a more thorough examination, they could recommend that you see a head and neck surgeon or an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist.

What are the surgical methods for Oral Cancer? 

Brush Biopsy: Your doctor will carefully remove some of the tissues to be examined under a microscope using a tiny brush or spatula.

Incisional biopsy: Small tissue fragments are removed from the afflicted area to do additional analysis.

Indirect laryngoscopy and pharyngoscopy: The Doctor will examine your throat (pharyngoscopy) and larynx (laryngoscopy) using a tiny mirror or a long, thin handle.

Direct laryngoscopy and pharyngoscopy examine the portion of the mouth invisible in a mirror, allowing for a clearer vision.

Glossectomy: The removal of the tongue, either entirely or partially

Mandibulectomy: It is a procedure that involves removing the jawbone.

Maxillectomy: It is the removal of all or a portion of the hard palate, which is the bony roof of the mouth.

Reconstructive surgery: It involves removing a significant amount of tissue and then replacing a portion of your jaw, tongue, palate, or lips. Occasionally, healthy tissue from another part of the body is taken.

What are the other treatment methods for Oral Cancer? 

There are some therapies which can be used before and after surgery for effective treatment of cancer; these include:

Radiation Therapy:  High-energy doses are used to destroy malignant cells and may be used with other therapies by your provider.

Chemotherapy: It eliminates the malignant cells by using anticancer medications.

Targeted therapy: It is a type of treatment that targets malignant cells specifically while sparing healthy cells.

Immunotherapy: It is a cutting-edge therapeutic approach that strengthens our immune system to combat malignant cells more successfully without harming healthy cells.

Prevention: How to prevent it? 

• Stay away from tobacco products like hookah; they contain nicotine and harm the mouth's lining.
• Keep your mouth clean, get a regular dental checkup every three years, get an oral cancer screening every year after the age of forty, and maintain good oral hygiene.
• Apply UV-AB sunscreen to your face to protect it from UV rays.
• Consume a healthy, well-balanced diet high in vitamins and antioxidants to enhance your oral health.

Global vs. India: Key statistics

Field	Global (2022)	India (2022)
New Cases	~3.9 lakh new cases; 16th most common cancer	~1.4 lakh cases; highest in the world; more common in men
Deaths	~1.7 lakh deaths	~77,000 deaths; the leading cause of cancer death in Indian men
Age & Gender	Mostly in men over 50; linked to smoking & alcohol	Affects mostly men aged 40–60; also rising in younger people due to early tobacco use
Hotspots	South Asia, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia	UP, Bihar, WB, Maharashtra, and Northeast states like Mizoram and Sikkim
Rural vs Urban	Higher risk in rural areas due to less awareness and late detection	Very high in villages due to chewing tobacco; rising in cities too
5-yr Survival	~50–60% overall; much higher if caught early	~30–40% in general; up to 65% in early or well-treated cases
Common Type	Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) in >90% cases	Same in India; caused mainly by gutkha, supari, khaini, and alcohol

How is Denvax made? Patient Success Stories of Oral Cancer 

Mr. Shaikh Ilyas—Recovered from oral cancer after Denvax in 2014; living a normal life. Watch video

Dr. Sharmin’s Patient—Oral cancer remission case shared by Dr. Sharmin, complete recovery with Denvax. Watch video

Female Oral Cancer Survivor—Watch video

Why Choose Denvax?

• Personalized immunotherapy: Helps fight cancer by using your immune cells.
• Safe & Non-toxic: Less harmful than radiation or chemotherapy.
• Complements Other Therapies: It can be used in conjunction with conventional treatments.
• Scientifically Verified: Predicated on international dendritic cell treatment research.
• All Stages Effective: Beneficial for both early and late malignancies.
• Professional Care: Led by the direction of Dr. Jamal A. Khan and Dr. Sharmin Yaqin, with facilities all over India.

Frequently asked questions

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